Reflection 1
SOCI 2F60 Foundations for Community Engagement
Reflection 2
Niagara Read: Rash Decisions
Description
I went to the Niagara reads: Rash Decisions program, which was at the Centennial Public Library in the Mills room. The speaker was a woman named Rashmi Biswas who was talking about her book and how she spent her last year writing her book called Rash Decisions: Accept Where you are, and Then …Be Amazing. We were informed that the real title went by the lines accept your past, accept where you are and then be amazing. The longer title had stuck with me. She told us about her past, how she has come to write this book, and about her family and their traditions that helped her complete this novel. She showed us what it was liked to be an author and the struggle to try to get a publishing company for her book. In the ended she had published her own book with the help of her husband. She had become amazing from it. When the speech was over Rashmi met with everyone in the audience who attended the speech.
When she had talked about accepting her past, accepting where she was and how she was amazing she had told us her steps to make it all happen. She told us four things that had held her back because she had not accepted them at some point. Two examples were that she would never be a ballerina and that she would never get her Ph. D. We were informed of these to show she had moved from her past and that we too can overcome our past and lives in the present.
Examination
When Rashmi was telling us about accepting the past, where you are and be amazing it made me think about what I want in life and how “imaginative thought” is involved in this planning process (Scheekloth & Shibley, p. 108). Schneekloth and Shibley told us this is a critical thinking where you look at the big picture of every situation and analyze it. It made me think of what I want in life and how my past won’t ruin my future for me. I will not allow my past to define how I am going to be in the future and it will not affect my goals in life. Rashmi was telling us how she had looked at the big picture and made her dream come true. When critically thinking like this you have to look at your past, your present and your future. The planning procedure with this type of thinking will make you think outside of the box and realize all of the ways for you to achieve your goal and become amazing. What Rashmi taught defines what imaginative thinking really is. The title of her book is a perfect explanation and how your end result should not only be amazing but make yourself amazing as well.
Articulation of Learning
I have learned that I now know what I want in my life and understand I know how to get there and will be successful. I was taught the steps that can help me achieve my goal and how every single goal you set is achievable. Rashmi was also encouraging when she came to talk to us after and she reassured me that everything was going to be okay. She had accomplished what she wanted and trusted her gut instincts to follow that path. She did work hard and in the end got exactly what she wanted. This did teach me that good things come to people who work hard to get what they want.
I learned this when Rashmi told us what had happened and how she had become successful. A great moment that I know I wont forget was when she told us she had let go of her past and accepted where she was today and is amazing all of the time. I noted that I could too forget my past and work with what is happening right now. Like the reading I formed, executed and interpreted my situations (Scheekloth & Shibley, p. 108). I knew I had to live for today because today is for me. She told us to pay attention to the present day and live for today, not tomorrow. This will cause you to live everyday as if it is your first and not worry as much as you would if you lived like you would if it was your last. She believes that you should enjoy everyday and be amazing.
This learning matters because this had brought confidence to me, knowing that I can start today for my goals of my future. It is significant because I never was sure if that path I was following was the right path for me, but when Rashmi put everything into perspective that living for today was for me and no one else, I knew I was doing what I wanted. She said that is all that matters. I realized that this is my life and I am doing all the right things for me, which is the big picture. I am here to live for myself and make myself amazing.
In light of this learning I now know I wont give up on myself and I will continue to do what I want and achieve my goals. I will be doing this all for myself. I am in the right field and I know what I want to will enjoy myself while I achieve all my goals. I want to be a PR for the curling association and this course has helped my have an open mind to everything and enjoy the community engagement and prove that this is for me. I will also have an open mind for setting goals for myself and believing they are realistic. I know anything is possible and I can achieve my dream job and sports goals. Reflection Schneekloth, L., & Shibley, R. (2005). Imagine Niagara. Journal of Canadian Studies,39(3), 105-120.














